Leather crimping and clamping machine.



PATENTED OCT-22. 1907.

G. E. ALBRIGHT.

LEATHER ORIMPING AND GLAMPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 5. 1903.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

In: NORRIS psrcns co-, wAsumnran, n. c.

No.869-,040 I PATENTED 001221907.

' .G.E.AALBRIGHT.

LEATHER GRIMPING AND OLAMPING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 5. 1903.

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my: mums PEYERS co.. wasmnurou, n. c.

PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET g.

[NVE 61 E 4% G. E. ALBRIGHT. LEATHER GRIMPING AND GLAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5. 1903.

. WITNESSES: V

No. 869,040. PATENTED 00122. 1907-.

'0. E. ALBRIGHT.A LEATHER GRIMPING AND GLAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILEI) DEC. 5. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 THE NORRIS PETERS co., wAsHmaruu, n c

onrrnn s'ra'rns CHESTER E. ALBRIGHT, OF LEWISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LEATHER CRIMPING AND CLAMPING MACHINE.

Application filed December 5 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orins'rnn E. ALBRIGHT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lewisburg, in the county of Union and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLeather Crimping and Clamping Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it anpertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to crimping and clamping machines, and particularlyto machines adapted to crimp and form leather or other pliable fabricinto pocketbook blanks, the object of my invention being to provide apeculiarly simple and effective mechanism for such purposes.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l. is a front elevation of amachine provided with my improvements; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of themachine; Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a transverse verticalsecti on through the central part of the table taken as on the line 4-4of Fig. 3, and showing the form and crimping mechanism in section, andthe bed-plate in full lines; Fig. 5- is a plan view on an enlarged scaleshowing the parts assembled as in Fig, 4; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionsimilar to that shown in Fig. 4, but showing the crimper slides thrustinto operative position; Fig. 7 is a sectional detail taken as on theline 77 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the frame in whichthe form is held while in position as a part of the machine; Fig. 9 isan edge elevation of a piece of plastic material such as my machineoperates upon; Fig 10 is a similar elevation showing the material aftermy machine has operated upon it; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the blankshown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the form, clampingplate and appliances; Fig. 13 is a detached perspec tive view of thelocking bar shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a detached perspective view ofthe clamping plate shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a detached perspectiveview of the union plate, by means of which the form and clamping plateare attached to the machine; Fig. 16 is a detached perspective view ofthe form-body; Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the stoppingand alining devices regulating the movement of the yielding bedplate;and Fig. 18 is a detail of a modification of the snap fastening devicefor holding the form. Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section of one of thefilling wedges.

The machine comprises essentially a frame, a table with an opening inwhich lies a yielding bed-plate, a sectional and detachable form, aform-holding mechanism held above the table and reciprocating to andfrom the yielding bed-plate, a crimping mechanism for driving in thematerial upon the form, a clamping mechanism operating upon the form,means for operating the form-holding mechanism and means for regulatingthe action of the yielding bed-plate. In operation it is in-Specifieation of Letters Patent.

,1903. Serial No. 183,888.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

tended that the form shall be put upon the form-holding mechanism, whichis then dropped to the table until it rests upon and depresses theyielding bed, the material being carried down, then forced in about theform, and then clamped thereto, the parts returning to their normalposition, the fornr removed, and a fresh one substituted.

A indicates the frame of the machine.

B is a table supported by the frame having a rectangular opening Badapted to receive the yielding bedplate and form. The table has slots11-, see Figs. 3 and 7, which, as hereinafter defined, form guide-ways.Beneath the table are ears B which serve as pivot bean ings.

G, O are rods extending and reciprocating through openings in the tableB and carrying at their upper ends a form-holding frame or head 0. Thelower ends of the rods 0 are connected by a cross bar 0 joined at thecenter upon a sleeve 0 On opposite sides of the sleeve 0 are trunnionstuds 0* which form bearings for a lever (J embracing the sleeve,pivoted at O to the frame of the machine and having a latch G adapted toengage any notch C in a locking segment C D is a vertical shaft passingthrough the sleeve C and carrying at its upper end a yielding bed-plateD which is attached to the shaft by a boss D. To the lower end of theshaft D is secured a hub D with outwardly extending arms D The outerends of these arms are secured to springs H attached at the oppositeends to cross-bars A of the frame.

E is a collar adjustably secured on the shaft D, as here shown, by meansof a set-screw e. his collar is so placed that it regulates or limitsthe upward movement of the shaft D and yielding bed-plate D by abuttingagainst cross-bars A.

F is a similar collar secured to the shaft D above the cross-bars A bymeans of set-screws f i These setscrews serve as bearings for the forkedends G of arm G. The outer end of the arm G passes through a bar a,secured to one side of the frame. The function of the arm G and theconnected parts is to prevent any turning movement of the shaft D, thecollar F limiting the downward movement of the shaft and the yieldingbed-plate. It will be apparent that the bedplate D may yield under thepressure of the form in the form-holding mechanism, and be returned,when released from that pressure, by the action of the springs H, thatthe extent of movement to correspond with the form used may be exactlyregulated by the collars E and F, and that the shaft and bed-plate willbe steadied and directed in the right line, by the controlling arm andcollar G, G.

I are segmental gears pivotally supported by the ears B and formed onthe end of lever arms I and operated through these lever arms by meansof rods 1, to drive in the crirnper slides as hereinafter deedgesthereof.

scribed. "he rods I are connected at their lower ends to arms Iextending from a sleeve 1' which embraces and plays upon a shaft D. Onopposite sides of the sleeve 1* are trunnion bearings 1 which carry atreadle lover I pivoted at I to the frame of the machine and-l aying itstreadle at I.

.T are springs secured at their upper ends to the crossbars A, and attheir lower ends to the trunnion bearings I, the function of the springsbeing to hold the treadle lever and the connected parts normally in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The reciprocating head 0 is formed with tubular bearings K, innertubular bearings L, and a central tubular bearing M.

N is an open rectangular tension frame or plate. Extending from themiddle of its longer sides are cars N, while its shorter sides bear rodsi 'hich pass through the bearings K and have secured upon themadjustable sleeves N N N are pressure springs placed between thebearings K and the frame N, and, as is apparent, the adjustable collarsN permit the tension frame to be precisely set to accommodate anythickness of leather or other material to be formed.

0 are shafts passing through the bearings L, and having at their lowerends nut wrenches O and at their upper ends hand wheels 0 P is adownwardly extending lug which passes through the bearing M and to whichare pivoted at P hooked gripping levers P normally pressed together bythe action of springs P", P. In Fig. 18, Opposite Fig. 1, I haveillustrated a modification or improvement of this form, in which Pindicates a disk having an operating arm P and two oppositely andeccentrically located pins P, and P indicates two resilient or springhooks, secured to a bar P which may be carried by the bearing M. Thedisk P may be adjusted on its shaft by the arm P", to change thelocation of the pins P, and thereby the adjustment of the arms P.

Q, Q, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are crimping plates which may be ofany desired form for any article, and are here shown as of substantiallyL-form, the ends Q being tapered so that they will lie over each otherand thereby make the combined crimping plates of even thickness in thelapped portions as well as in the unlapped portions. These plates areseparate from the machine, and are put in position by the operatorbefore the crimping and clamping operation and afterwards retained inthe form which carries the crimped blank. The component parts of theform are shown in Figs. 4-6, 9]6. As herein shown it is composed of abody of two equal sections R with the other parts assembled in and aboutthe body, so that the form may be readily broken up to facilitate theremoval of the blank. The body is made with a raised and rolled rim, asindicated at R.

S is a union plate adapted to fit in the central cavity of the assembledform sections. It has perforations S and distance bars S. In the centerof the plate S is a stud s lzayinginwardly cut detents S on oppositesides into which take the hooked arms P P to support the form.

T is a clamping plate formed with depending flanges T, and perforationsT These flanges fit into the cavity of the form body R closely aroundthe inner There is thus formed between the raised rim R and thedepending flange T a space into which the leather or other material isto be forced in the crimping operation.

T is a central perforation through which passes the stud S Asillustrated at T" the clamping plate extends outwardly over the rim ofthe form-body. (See Figs. 12. f and 6.) U are short arms secured to thesection R and. as shown, for example in Figs. 4 and 5. they have headssunk into the bottom of the section of the body of the form and bear attheir tops nuts U V is a locking bar formed with oppositely directedslots V, V and a central perforation W, which takes over the stud S sothat the slotted ends may be turned around to engage the bolt U andserve as abutmenls for the nuts U The segmental gears l engage inlegralor attached racks W of crimper slides W. which are alined and guided byblocks Pf secured to the top of the table B. The crimping slides W haveat their inner ends angularly extending arms, W W (Figs. 3 and 5.)

X (Fig. 3) are wedge-plates. or filling plates. They are adjustable inand out, as shown, and are intended to ill in the space about the centerof the top of the crimped blank. which at the corners is occupied by thecrimped material, so that the clamp may take evenly over the wholeblank.

Y indicates the blank ready to be formed and crimped Y represents theupper edge of the blank after being applied to the form. and especiallythe erimped portion. while Y represents the part which is drawn aroundthe raised and rolled rim R in practice the two sections of theform-body are placed together. the plate S is put into the cavity, theclamping plate T is placed over the plate S. the perforations T beinglarge enough to fit over the nuts U' and the bolts U. the perforations Tpassing over the stud S and finally the bar V is placed over the stud Sand turned to the position shown in Fig. 12. When the parts are thusassembled they are held together constituting a form and yet are looselyheld so that the crimping plates may readily be forced into the spacebetween the rim It and the clamping plate T. until the material strikesthe flange T. Four of the crimping plates Q. Q are placed in the Y-armsof the slides W and a blank of leather or other material is placed overthe opening B and the yielding bedplaLc D The assembled form is nowtaken and placed in the opening of the tension frame N and pushed up sothat its stud S snaps into place between the arms P or P in thisposition the form is firmly held by the form holding mechanism, but theclamping plate though suspended is left loose so that it can notinterfere with the crimping. If tightened prematurely it wouldfrequently tear the material. The operator new releases the pawl Cpermitting the lever C and the form-holding mechanism to drop so thatthe form rests upon and depresses the yielding bed-plate D. As the formgoes down upon the bed-plate it carries with it the central part of thematerial. the sides being spread out under the tension frame and heldjust as if by the hand of the operator. and. as shown in Fig. 4, thematerial being bent up at the sides. When the form and the material arethus related the operator presses upon the troadle I and through thetreadle lever I the sleeve 1, the

arms I and the rods 1 motion is communicated to the lever arms 1,partially rotating the segmental gears I which engage the raclts W andthus carry forward the slide W and the crimping plates Q, Q, lorcingthem and the material between the rim of the form, the extending edge oithe clamping plate and against the flange T of the clamping plate. othermaterial which is thus pressed in is thick enough when crimped to fillthe spaceat each corner, but in the open space, as indicated in Fig. 5.between the end ol the arms oi the crimping plates the leather would notbe unilormly pressed in were it not that the filling wedges X areapplied to occupy this space. The hand wheels 0 are now manipulatedcausing the wrenches O in the end ol shafts O to turn the nuts U thuscausing the tension plate and the detached crimpers to be securelyclamped to the term. The treadle is now released, the springs J returnthe rods 1 and the connected parts carrying back the slides W, the leverarm C is liltcd and latched. carrying up with it the lorm-holdingmechanism, the spring arms P or P are separated and the form removed andcarried away for the subsequent operations the yielding bed-platereturning to its orignial position by the operation of the springs .llsubstantially flush with the opening in the table.

The machine will readily manipulate, for example, a blank of leatherintended to lorm the body of a coinpurse. The lorm will make a sack orreceptacle in the blank, the tension plate will hold and press out therim, and the crimping plate will force in the rim over the sack orreceptacle making a frame flange which in the example illustrated inFig. 11, of a rectangular coin-purse blank, will be molded or formedwith a substantially flat base, a bulging side and an upper outturnedflange with an intervening depression between the bulge over the flange,the flange being crimped or gathered at each corner.

Having lully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination of a detachableform and clamping plate, means for operatll the clamping plate, andmeans for suspending the form and clamping plate.

2. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination ol a form andclamping plate, means for operating the clamping plate, and means forsuspending the form in register with the clamping plate operating means.

1;. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination of a. form andclamping plate, operating means for the clamping plate, means forsuspending the form and clamplug plate, a yielding hedplate, and meansfor bringing the form and clamping plate to the bed-plate.

4. In a crimping and clamping machine, a detachable form in combinationwith a detachable clamping plate, clamping means for holding the plateloosely in position on the form, in combination with means for forcingthe material between the form and the plate, means on the machine formoving the form and plate toward one another and separate means on themachine for fastening the clamping means to hold the plate and formlocked when they are detached from the machine.

In a crimping and clamping machine, a detachable form bearing a clampingplate extending over the form, in combination with means for receivingand operating the form, detached crimper platcs,- means for forcing thecrimper plates between the clamping plate and the form, and means foroperating the clamping plate.

(I. In a crimping and clamping machine, a detachable form bearing aclamping plate, means for receiving and The leather or operating theform, detached crimper plates, means for forcing the crimper platesforward to carry them and the material between the clamping plate andthe form, and means for clamping together the parts of the form, thecrimper plates and the material.

7. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination with a detachableform bearing a clamping plate, of means for receiving and reciprocatingthe form, a table, a yield ing bedplate moving through the table,detached or free crimper plates substantially rectangular and adapted tolie in the table at the corners of the form, means for moving forwardthe crimper plates, and means for clamping the parts of the form, thematerial and the crimping plates.

S. In a crimping and clamping mechanism, a table having an opening, ayielding; bed-plate lying in the opening, a detachable form, areciprocating form-holding mechanism, detached or free crimping plates,means for moving the crimping plates on the table and into the form andmeans for locking the crimping plates in the form.

9. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination of a form andclamping plate, free crimping plates, means for forcing the crimpingplates between the clamping plate and the form, and means for securingthe clamping plate, crimping plates and form together so that they maybe re moved from the machinev 10. In a crimping and clamping machine,the combination of a form-holder, a detachable form comprising aclamping plate carried by the form, a yielding gripping device forholding the blank in the line of movement of the form, detachedcrimpers, and means for holding the crimpers clamped to the form whenthe form is removed from the machine.

11. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combina tion of asubstantially rectangular form with means for crimping the corners andends of the article or material being treated, and leaving' theintervening parts un crimped.

12. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination with arectangular detachable form, of a reciprocating form-holding mechanism,a table with a rectangular opening, a rectangular yielding bed-plate,substantially L- shaped crimper plates adapted to he applied at eachcorner, and reciprocating slides for moving the crimper plates in uponthe form.

13. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combina tion of a formhaving an attaching hooked stud, a formholding mechanism comprising asnap spring fastening to receive the stud of the form, a yieldingbed-plate, means for bringing the form-holding mechanism down to the bedplate, and means for forcing in the material upon the form.

14. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combina tion of a tablehaving an opening, a bed-plate lying in the opening and supported by ashaft held by resilient means, stops regulating the extent of movementof the shaft, means for preventing the shaft from twisting in operation,and a reciprocating form-holding mechanism above the table.

15. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combina tion with afornrholder comprising a yielding frame, a detachable form and means forsuspending it within the frame so that there is a space between the rimof the frame and the rim of the form, a table having an opening toreceive the form, a bed plate in the opening, crimper plates, and meansfor operating the form-holder and the crimping plates.

It In a crimping and clamping machine, a form com prising parts heldtogether by bolts and nuts, and a formnolding mechanism comprising aframe to receive the form, and means on the form-holder for operatingthe nuts to hold the parts of the form clamped together.

17. In a crimping and clamping machine, a detachable form comprisingarts held together by bolts and nuts and a form-holder comprising acatch to suspend the form and fixed wrenches having jaws which receivethe nuts when the form is applied to the form holder.

18. In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination of a table, aseries of corner slides, crimper plates op erated by the slides. a tormholdiug mechanism and oppr site fillin wedges between the opposite pairsof slides.

I). In a crimping and clamping machine, the combination of areciprocating term-holding mechanism, a table, corner slides withY-nrms. and separable 3111111)(21' plates adapted to lie within theY'arms and overlap at the meet ing ends.

2H. In a machine for farming and crimping leather or other material. thecombination at a term for depressing the body of a blank. means forapplying a yielding pressure or tension to the projecting flange,detachable crimping means for forcing in the material between thepressure or tension means and the form. the crimping means beingremovable with the 1 mm. and a clamping device carried by the term torsecuring the molded blank and crimping means to the term.

2i. In a machine Ifor forming and crimping leather or other material. hecombination of a form-holding nl0(fh anism. a detachable form. a tensionframe about the form, a bed-plate. means t'or operating the tornrholdingmechanism and the tension frame in unison. crimping plates and aclamping plate, means for operating the crimping plates. means foroperating the clamping plate, and separate means on the machine forlocking the clamping plate to the term.

2". In a machine for forming and crimping leather or other material, thecombination of a form-holding mechanism, a detachable form. a regulablesprin pressed ten sion plate substantially training the form, a lramebearing a yielding bed-plate to receive the form and a fixed platebetween the form and tension plate to receive the tension plate.crimping devices, and operating means.

In a crimping and clamping machine, a form having ara ed rim, a clampingplate extending over the rim of the form in combination with means forforcing the material between the clamping plate and the rim, andsecuring devices by which the form and the clamping plate may be lockedtogether to clamp the material.

24. In a crimping and clamping machine. a form having a raised rim. aclamping plate extending over the rim, a depending flange Iittingagainst: the inner side of the rim, and clamping devices. in combinationwith means for i'orcing material between the rim and the clamping plateand against the Ilange of the clamping plate.

25. A form comprising a sectional body, each section carrying an uprightbolt, a union plate carrying a central stud and fitting over the bolts,a clamping plate fitting ever the bolts and the stud, and means forholding the parts as assembled.

26. A form comprising a body with a raised rim, a clamping plate havingguide-ribs playing Within the rim of the body, and securing means.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature, in presence of two Witnes. s.

CHESTER E. ALBRIGII'IT. Witnesses Axnnnw A. Iintsnn. .Ir.,

ANinmw A. Lats rm.

